H. Paul Shuch is a Light Sport Repairman with Maintenance ratings for airplanes, gliders, weight shift control, and powered parachutes, as well as an independent Rotax Maintenance Technician at the Heavy Maintenance level. He holds a PhD in Air Transportation Engineering from the University of California, and serves as Director of Maintenance for AvSport of Lock Haven.

Sling 2 Pilot wrote:Just found another nearby gas station with 91 no ethanol unleaded.

Great! Send some my way.

The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.Prof H Paul ShuchPhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMTAvSport LLC, KLHVfly@AvSport.orgAvSport.org facebook.com/SportFlyingSportPilotExaminer.US

At the bottom of the page when it loads is a shaded, orange-ish box, just click on your state and it will list all stations by city in alphabetical order. It'll then show you the brand and octane rating for that station. Users can and do leave notes as to the current prices.

Wm.Ince wrote:The only reservation I have with ethanol use, is if the aircraft sits idle for long periods of time.

I think we'd have to define "long periods."

Until this week, I would have probably said anything over a few weeks is iffy. BUT, this week was the first time in nine weeks I could fly, due to recent shoulder surgery. I had about half tanks of 93 unleaded with ethanol in the tanks, and I decided to start it with the "old" gas in it and see what happened, and if it ran rough at all I'd drain it and put fresh gas in.

Once I got the battery charged (oops), it started right up, and ran great. I flew about 45 minutes, twice around the pattern and then out away from the airport (to test my new iFly unit with the autopilot), and back for a full-stop landing. It ran great the whole time, at all RPM.

So I think quality ethanol gas (mine was from a local BP station) holds up quite well. BTW I have tested this gas before, and it's about 5-6% ethanol. Higher ethanol content fuel might not hold up as well. I think at the 4-6 month mark it would need to be reevaluated, but based on my experience, fuel sitting for 2-3 months should not really be an issue. Just make sure you check it for water.

3Dreaming wrote:Paul, maybe you could talk the airport into becoming a dealer for Swift fuel.

I've tried, Tom. The city owns the airport, and their level of interest couldn't be lower. (Some members of our City Council would just as soon close the airport.)

The opinions posted are those of one CFI, and do not necessarily represent the FAA or its lawyers.Prof H Paul ShuchPhD CFII DPE LSRM-A/GL/WS/PPC iRMTAvSport LLC, KLHVfly@AvSport.orgAvSport.org facebook.com/SportFlyingSportPilotExaminer.US

Wm.Ince wrote:...Once I got the battery charged (oops), it started right up, and ran great. I flew about 45 minutes, twice around the pattern and then out away from the airport (to test my new iFly unit with the autopilot), and back for a full-stop landing. It ran great the whole time, at all RPM....

Wm.Ince wrote:...Once I got the battery charged (oops), it started right up, and ran great. I flew about 45 minutes, twice around the pattern and then out away from the airport (to test my new iFly unit with the autopilot), and back for a full-stop landing. It ran great the whole time, at all RPM....

Wm.Ince wrote:...Once I got the battery charged (oops), it started right up, and ran great. I flew about 45 minutes, twice around the pattern and then out away from the airport (to test my new iFly unit with the autopilot), and back for a full-stop landing. It ran great the whole time, at all RPM....